Whether you want to build a new paver patio or plant mulch-filled garden beds, you’ll need to clear the land beforehand. Land clearing transforms your yard into a blank canvas that’s ready for landscaping or construction projects. So, who do you hire to clear land? The answer is pretty simple.
Benefits of Hiring a Land Clearing Specialist for Land Clearing
If you want to clear your yard before a construction or landscaping project, you should hire a land clearing specialist near you. The benefits include:
- Savings: If you need to rent land clearing equipment for a DIY job, you’ll spend anywhere from $100 to $5,000. This isn’t really a deal considering that land clearing costs $1,400 to $6,000 if you hire a pro, who will also help you avoid costly mistakes.
- Safety: While most people can remove grass and shrubs, it can be hazardous to excavate and remove large trees on your own. This is especially true when heavy machinery is involved. Even lifting large rocks and tree branches incorrectly can cause injury.
- Efficiency: Land clearing specialists know how to clear land efficiently so that your construction or landscaping project can start without delay.
- Damage reduction: There’s a lot of potential to damage things like pipes, cables, and even nearby vegetation during a DIY land clearing. A specialist will know how to clear your land and preserve nearby trees and shrubs, as well as prevent damage to underground utilities. They can even make mulch out of the trees they remove.
Can I DIY Land Clearing?
There are tons of DIY-friendly landscaping jobs, from planting flowers to installing basic landscape curbing. However, large land clearing projects are best left to the pros. This type of job often requires excavation and tree removal, which requires heavy machinery, like bulldozers, that can be dangerous to operate for the average DIYer.
That said, you can DIY smaller land clearing jobs (think grass and shrub removal). All you’ll need is a shovel, pruning shears, gardening gloves, and willpower. Even the smallest yards require a lot of manual labor to clear, which is why so many homeowners hire pros.
Can I Hire an Arborist to Clear My Land?
You may be able to hire a local arborist to clear your land, as well as perform other related jobs like forestry mulching and tree trimming. Arborists specialize in trees, and they’re skilled at many land clearing jobs, like tree removal, brush removal, and stump grinding.
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One of the biggest benefits of hiring an arborist is that they understand root systems. This means they can help preserve your existing environment, protecting nearby trees while safely removing others. They’ll also use the same specialized equipment as other land clearing services to safely and efficiently do the job.
Can I Hire a Landscaper to Clear My Land?
Landscaping and land clearing are actually a little bit different. Landscaping is the art of crafting a gorgeous landscape—whether that includes planting flowers for your hardiness zone or strategically placing river rock around your house to prevent flooding or standing water. Land clearing is the art of getting rid of trees, shrubs, boulders, and debris on your land so you can landscape.
Nonetheless, you might be able to hire a landscaper to clear land, but not all landscaping companies offer this service. It depends on the complexity of the job. Most landscapers work minor jobs, like grass removal or shrub removal, into the overall cost of a landscaping project. It’s not the same as removing large trees and regrading land, which requires a specialist.
Talk to a landscaper near you about which pro will work best for the job.
How Do Pros Clear Land?
Pros perform a number of jobs when they clear land. First, they’ll survey the land to see what they have to clear and how best to clear it. They may look at any slopes that need regrading and check for underground utilities. Once they determine the scope of the project, they will:
- Acquire permits
- Remove trees
- Grind down tree stumps
- Remove shrubs and cacti
- Remove grass and brush
- Remove rocks, boulders, and other debris
- Trim trees that obstruct your construction plans
- Regrade and level the land
